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Henry Franklin – The Skipper At Home
Henry Franklin
The Skipper At Home
Style: Jazz
Label: Black Jazz
Catalog Number: BJQD/17
Released: 1974, 70's
One of our many favorites from the legendary Oakland-based label Black Jazz, double bassist Henry Franklin’s The Skipper At Home takes off right where his solo debut The Skipper left off with six powerful and energetic soul-jazz pieces in the vein of Donald Byrd’s early 70’s recordings (Ethiopian Knights, Fancy Free, Kofi). Franklin’s distinctive bass tone shines at the forefront as he employs a range of playing styles including a sharp, percussive attack that cuts through the mix like a knife on opener “Blue Lights” and keeps the music pulsing forward. Our personal favorite “Soft Spirit” shows off a more melodic side to Franklin with drummer Leon “Ndugu” Chancelor providing a perfect dream-like atmosphere through beautifully restrained playing in combination with sparkling chimes. Like many of the great Black Jazz releases, The Skipper At Home would later be sampled in hip-hop records including A Tribe Called Quest’s 1996 album Beats, Rhymes and Life.
– Phil Cho
Recommended – A1 Blue Lights, A3 Soft Spirit
Tags: Black Jazz / Samples / Soul-jazz
Tracklist:
A1 Blue Lights
A2 What Was
A3 Soft Spirit
B1 The Magic Boy
B2 Venus Fly Trap
B3 Waltz For Boobuss
Credits:
Bass, Leader – Henry Franklin (Nyimbo)
Drums – Ndugu (Leon Chancelor)
Graphics – Grafica, Chicago
Guitar – Kenny Climas
Lacquer Cut By – BB
Liner Notes – Amani Nyimbo*, Shirley Ray Reid
Photography By [Cover] – Bruce Wilson (5)
Producer – Gene Russell
Soprano Saxophone – Kemang Sunduza (Bill Henderson)
Tenor Saxophone – Charles Owens
Trombone – Al Hall, Jr.
Trumpet – Oscar Brashear (Cache)
